High Creek Ridge Trail to High Creek Lake

High Creek Ridge Trail to High Creek Lake is a 10.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Richmond, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

DISTANCE

10.2 miles

ELEVATION GAIN

2,988 feet

ROUTE TYPE

Out & Back

dogs on leash

backpacking

camping

hiking

horseback riding

nature trips

forest

lake

views

wild flowers

wildlife

rocky

This is one of my favorite hikes. It follows a river for a lot of the way. The forest is beautiful. The beaver dams are fun and then the hard work sets in. The forest opens to a meadow and you are in landscape reminiscent of Switzerland. It is really gorgeous and I break out into "the hills are alive" every single time. The last third of the hike really is tough. I have gotten altitude sickness on this hike before because the gain of elevation is so quick. Pace yourself early on so you can make it through the last grueling part. Seeing the lake pop into view once you pop over the top brings a lot of well earned joy. As of June 23 the trail only had a tiny bit of snow cover up at the very top. Should be gone in a week or so. The wildflowers are in their heyday so go soon or they will be gone!

Don't hike this trail in one day. Amazingly beautiful but it's SO STEEP. If you're fine with that the jagged peeks, wildflowers and outrageous snow slides and glaciers around are enough to make you salivate.... now only if my legs knew it was beautiful.

It's a leg burner for sure. Tree cover for the first 2/3 and beautiful rugged peaks for the last 1/3. Lots of wildflowers, pretty bridges, rocks, and the occasional cow. I don't backpack unless there is something worth seeing at the destination. With that being said, the lake is beautiful at the base of all the cliffs, snow, and wildflowers. You can take a short hike from there, up to the saddle that had a great view down into cache valley.

Beautiful trees! We followed High Creek south in the Naomi Wilderness. Not crowded which was nice. I'd rate the first mile or two in as easy. There were a couple of bridge crossings. The road getting there was a little tricky but I didn't scratch my hidden hitch. Lots of free camping spots along the way to the trailhead. In Richmond there is also the Fat Boy and Pepperidge Farm outlets (great for post hike enjoyment)

I absolutely love this trail! It's super fun, but on your first time the trail is deceptive. You get to the first basin and think your done but then the last 2,100 verticle kicks in and whips your butt! Great hike but it can be brutal near the top.